One of the most popular destinations in Asia, Vietnam abounds with natural and cultural splendours that are second to none in the region. When you venture away from frenetic Hanoi, you will discover the untouched natural beauty and charming people of northern Vietnam.
Fantastic trip which really delivered the remote experience in both Vietnam and Laos, awesome climbs with plenty of great local food to fuel us. I would like to mention Mr. Choy our guide in Laos, he is a great representative for SpiceRoads and a real gentleman. His knowledge on Laos and willingness to provide information was fantastic. He went out of his way to ensure our holiday and the cycling was enjoyable and provided a great variety of food for us to sample and enjoy. His cycling ability was fantastic and attention to detail on safety for our group was impeccable. The driver in Laos was very attentive as well. I enjoyed this cycling trip and it delivered the remote experience.
Fabulous! A journey full of wonderful surprises. Enchanting scenery, beautiful souls and delicious nourishing delights. The biking each day was varied, and the route mainly off the beaten tracks. I loved the challenge of the hills which were always going to be achievable purely because of the encouragement and support from both the guides and drivers. A magical memorable holiday. Thank you!
I would like to make anew additional comment about Xue, our Laotian guide. He is a big asset to your team. I was very impressed by his eagerness and willingness to learn and please. He was very polite, kind and genuine, but professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. His winning smile and zest for life was infectious and both my husband and father agree, he really made our trip. Biggest thumbs up for Xue.
I would definitely want to do another trip with SpiceRoads. A very professional team. Thank you all.
View more: Touring
Tours in: LaosMulti-CountryVietnam
DestinationsVietnam, Laos
Tour MeetsHanoi
Fly in toNoi Bai International Airport (HAN)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
You can cycle a total of up to 761 km on paved roads along rivers, through lush paddy fields, karst landscapes, and peaceful villages before taking on some climbs to truly appreciate the natural splendours. When the climbs are tough, we lowered the distances to make it manageable. The journey takes us on a route less frequented; therefore, some overnight stays will be basic at guesthouses, and there will be one night with shared facilities.
Suitability: You can expect a full day of riding each day with some challenging ascents for you to overcome, but they mean nothing compared to your flying down the long descents we have purposely included in this program. The tour can be enjoyed by anyone with reasonably good physical condition. As is always the case, the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the riding. However, an air-conditioned bus travels behind the group for support.
Biking Conditions: We ride between 30 and 70 km per day, with the option of cycling 100 km one day. We also have 1 rest day along with 2 half-day rides. The roads are predominantly tarmac and in relatively good condition, but occasionally you will experience sections of deteriorated road surfaces and small sections of dirt roads, which makes it all the more exciting and adventurous!
We meet in Vietnam's capital of Hanoi. You have time to explore the city on your own before we gather for dinner and a trip briefing.
Church Boutique Hotel Hang Gai
DinnerA day exploring the countryside and local artisans. We have a short transfer out of the city to avoid traffic and start with a lovely ride on a dyke along the Red River, a perfect quiet place to get used to cycling in Vietnam. Our first stop will be Bat Trang, known for its handmade ceramics. The pottery is quite varied and interesting. We then cycle south into the heart of the delta, passing through many traditional villages and rice fields. We have a two-hour transfer to lunch in Tam Coc. In the afternoon, we board a boat for a leisurely cruise on the Ngo Dong River and float through three natural caves, the largest of which is 125 m long. Sit back, relax, and see rural Vietnam from a different perspective, taking in the dramatic limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields. After our scenic boat ride, we disembark and transfer back to our hotel.
Tam Coc Rice Fields ResortBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 58km
+315m
-311mWe start cycling from our hotel in Tam Coc for a flat ride to the town of Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Ly dynasties. The route is stunning as you pass green rice fields amongst karst mountains. After a stop to visit Dinh Le Temple, built in the shape of a Chinese character in the 17th century, we continue pedalling along the Hoang Long River through some impressive landscape. The first 35 km are flat and then we'll have some small climbs up to the park, but they are all short. Upon arrival at Cuc Phuong, Vietnam's largest national park, we visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, where a wide variety of native monkeys and gibbons, including critically endangered langurs, were saved from wildlife smugglers and are being rehabilitated to return to the wild. After the visit, we continue cycling to the centre of the park and have the option to transfer or cycle the 20 km back to our overnight accommodation in the park.
Cuc Phuong Guest HouseBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 77km+1181m-1028mAfter breakfast, we take a short transfer to Lanh An, where we start our cycling on a small tarmac road with dramatic mountain scenery and along the Buoi River. We cycle past local villages of Muong people and their fields of rice, corn, cassava, and sugarcane. After a lunch of Pho at a local restaurant, we have a short transfer uphill to start our afternoon ride with a descent to Mai Chau, as there is no better way to enter this paddy-filled valley than by bicycle. We arrive with plenty of time to enjoy a dip in the pool or the sunset view from your balcony at our luxurious lodge.
Mai Chau Eco LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 62km+582m-802mAfter breakfast, take a guided stroll around Mai Chau Valley, where we can admire the superb panorama of Mai Chau surrounded by a green valley and stilt houses. Be sure to bring your camera! Back at the hotel, we check out, hop on the bikes, and cycle from Mai Chau to deep inside Pu Luong National Reserve. After 20 km of flat terrain, be ready to start pushing the pedals as we conquer the biggest hill of the day with a 550-m climb over 17 km. But the effort is well worth it for the exhilarating downhill cruise to Dong Tam. We have a picnic lunch en route at a stilt house of ethnic Thai people. Once we reach Dong Tam, we load up the bikes to avoid construction and transfer 35 km to our hotel in Quan Son.
Mien Tay HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 75km+1264m-1351mThis morning, we transfer 53 km to the border, where we'll be met by our Laos guides to prepare for the portion of our bicycle tour in Laos. We acquaint ourselves with our new bikes and start our ride to Vieng Xay. Our ride will be along streams and through karst landscapes interspersed with rice paddies. Our destination today is historic Vieng Xai, once the war-time headquarters of Laos’ communists, famous for its remarkable landscape of karst limestones honeycombed with caves that were used as shelter during the relentless bombing raids. Along the way, we’ll see a number of historic caves, including the Lao-Cuban Hospital Cave.
Naxai Guesthouse 2Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 58km+1167m-631mAfter breakfast, we head to the Vieng Xai Caves Visitor Centre to get our bearings and get ready to go on the audio tour. The Vieng Xai Caves are an extensive network of caves in limestone mountains. Four hundred and eighty of these caves were used by the Communist Party army to shelter from American air raids during the Second Indochina War, also known as the Vietnam War. We use our bikes to get from cave to cave and walk through the caves listing to the commentary and audio effects. After lunch, we get back on the saddle and cycle to Xam Neua, Houaphanh’s provincial capital, through a number of traditional ethnic villages.
Xayphasouk HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 30km+692m-648mWe have a rest and go on a different type of adventure, a safari within the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area. The area is known for its forest, high level of biodiversity, and endangered species, including tiger, gaur, Sambar deer, and white-cheeked gibbon. We transfer from Xam Neua to the starting point of this adventure in Ban Sonkhoua. Along the way, we stop to see the 100-m long cascade over rock slabs of Saleuy Waterfall. When dusk comes, we head out for wildlife-spotlighting down the Nam Nern River on long-tail boats that drift downriver for the best chances of spotting wild animals. We overnight at simple but well-appointed bamboo huts with the sounds of the jungle surrounding us.
Nam Nern Eco LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerAfter breakfast, boats will float us back to Ban Sonkhoua, where we get on our bikes to start riding again. Today is all about magnificent downhills! Our first spectacular descent will bring us to lunch on the Nam Nern riverbank in Ban Sop Lao. After lunch, we transfer to Ban Souanmon, from which we’ll cycle through the mountains towards our second outstanding descent onto the Xieng Khouang Plateau. The day ends at Ban Xang Hot Springs, where we’ll be staying the night in a community lodge.
Ban XangBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 63km+1135m-2036mAfter a hot spring bath and breakfast, we start our traverse of the plateau, which is home to the mysterious Plain of Jars, a World Heritage site. We ride through numerous villages and have an overall gradual climb for the first part of the day as we end up at 1100 m from our start point of 500 m. Once we are up on the plateau, the landscape changes to grassy plains. This area was one of the most heavily bombed in Laos and evidence of unexploded ordinances (UXO) are everywhere. Resourceful locals use bomb casings and other remnants, putting them to use as fences, tools, vegetable planters, decorations, and barbecues.
Vansana Plain of Jars HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 69km+1265m-657mWe cycle to visit the mysterious prehistoric Plain of Jars and learn the many theories of their existence. We start with a visit to Site 1, where there are also many visible bomb craters, and continue to Site 2, where the jars are set up on a hillside. We have lunch at Site 2 and then you have the option of cycling the 20 km back to town or taking the bus. You have the afternoon free to visit the MAG Office-UXO Visitor Information Centre to watch their movie for a fascinating insight into the legacy of the Second Indochina War, aka the Vietnam War. There are numerous restaurants in town, and you can choose which you prefer as dinner is on your own tonight.
Vansana Plain of Jars HotelBreakfast, Lunch
Ride 50km+487m-467mWe head east to Phou Khoun with the first 50 km to Nongtang, a large natural lake surrounded by high limestone cliffs, a relatively flat ride compared to our previous hills. Stop for a photo of the lake, and then it's a quick 27 km, as the last 14 km are all downhill, on to our lunch spot on the Nam Chat River. We transfer the final 60 km uphill to Phou Khoun. We arrive in time for you to enjoy the sunset and stunning view from your guesthouse.
Sala Phou KhounBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 77km+939m-1224mWe have an overall descent to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the banks of the Mekong River. For those that want to cycle more, they can leave early from guesthouse and be picked up 32 km along the route. We then all transfer up 20 km to our starting point. From here, we have a glorious 18-km descent to Ban Khoua Nam Ming. Here we have lunch and prepare for a 14-km post-lunch ascent. We have one more swooping downhill before we are down on the rolling flats. We ride into charming Luang Prabang and to our riverside guesthouse. We head out to the temple-filled town to have our last dinner together.
Sala PrabangBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 112km+2497m-3453mThe final day of the tour in Laos consists of a bike ride to Pak Ou for a visit to the striking limestone Tham Ting and Tham Teung Caves, set in a cliff at the confluence of the Ou and Mekong rivers. The caves are packed with thousands of Buddha images. On the cycle there, we stop at Ban Xang Hai, where you get to watch Lao rice wine production and do some sampling too! After lunch at Ban Pak Ou, we’ll be returning to Luang Prabang by boat. We return to the hotel around 3 pm, so you can freshen up before your onward journey. Those looking to extend their trip can explore northern Laos, or head back to Vietnam to spend some time beachside at Nha Trang or riverside at Vang Vieng!
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 30km+324m-330mDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes in Vietnam are Trek X-Calibers, and in Laos they are Giant Talons; all with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, disc brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
A visa issued at a Laos consulate abroad is valid for 60 days. When entering Laos with a visa please be sure to obtain an immigration entry stamp. Entering the country on only a visa, and not the proper immigration entry stamp, could subject you to fines and/or penalties.
*Beginning December 31, 2019, these border posts will no longer offer Visa On Arrival (VOA) services or accept eVisas. If you are traveling into Laos from Vietnam through the Dien Bien Phu border (as in Cycling Hanoi to Luang Prabang) or the Nameo border (as in Remote Vietnam and Laos by Bike), you will need to obtain your entry visa at a Laotian embassy or consulate prior to arrival in Laos. Please contact the Laotian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence to apply for your visa in advance. Be aware that posted visa fees from the Laotian government can be subject to change without notice.
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
Laos has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27C and 40C (80-104F), with night temperatures in the 20C/75F). The rainy season is from June to October. The cooler season, is from November to February, with average temperatures between 20C and 30C (70- 86F). It can get a little cold at night at higher elevations year round so bring a light fleece for the evenings.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D =dinner. Most meals are local Laos food and feature noodles, curries and soups. Lao cuisine is very similar to Thai food and we make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere, but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide we suggest US$3-4 per person per day is appropriate.
The official national currency in Laos is the kip, however, Thai baht and US dollars are also used, especially in larger cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, kip is usually preferred. There are now a few ATMs in Laos, but they are not widespread and are operational only sporadically. The best overall exchange rates are those offered at the BCEL (Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao). Licensed moneychangers rates are similar to banks Spend all your kip before you leave as no one will exchange it for you once you leave the country!
If your nationality is not on the list for e-visa eligibility, or you need options for longer stays or multiple entries, then you may consider Visa on Arrival. The process for this is more complicated than e-visa and requires the acquisition of a visa letter prior to arrival. Please see here for a detailed overview.
*If you are joining our "Saigon to Bangkok" or "Saigon to Siem Reap" tour, when you are applying for your e-visa, please select Song Tien Landport as the exit point. This refers to the river crossing at Chao Doc.
Recommended vaccinations are typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days. Vietnam is a malarial area and you will need to take anti-malarial tablets. Please speak to your doctor for the most up to date information.
Weather in Vietnam is divided into 4 main regions - the far north, north, central and south.
The far north can get very cold in December and January while the dry season runs from October to late March and the wet season between April to September.
In Hanoi & the north, it is hot, wet and humid from May to October while November to April is cooler and dry.
Central Vietnam experiences hot, dry weather between January & August with temperatures ranging in the mid 30°C. High levels of rainfall are during September - November.
Southern Vietnam is dry and hot from November to April, and warm and wet between May & October, with the highest rainfall in June, July & August.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are Vietnamese food and features noodles, rice curries and soups. Vietnamese cuisine is world famous and we make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Vietnam but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide, we suggest US$ 3-4 per person per day is appropriate.
The official national currency is the Vietnam dong (d), but the US dollar is widely accepted in tourist centers. However, in smaller towns and villages the dong is preferred. ATMs are available in all major tourist destinations and big cities. Vietcombank has the best network with a single withdrawal limit of 2,000,000d (about US$125). Most major currencies can be exchanged at leading banks in Vietnam, but the US dollar is preferred away from the tourist centers. Changing US$100 will make you an instant millionaire! You cannot legally take the dong out of Vietnam but you can reconvert reasonable amounts of it into US dollars on departure.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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Just finished Remote Vietnam and Laos tour. What a great experience every day. The route was most enjoyable, the food and scenery - fantastic. Most enjoyable were the mountain climbs. Mr. Choy is an excellent guide, great local knowledge. A great representative for SpiceRoads and Laos.